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Hello! I am a fiend for design, art and architecture and plan my travels around discovering them. Travel-related products, well-designed hotels, art events — you’ll find em here. Some snark, some pricing and all honesty, I let you know what I uncover and if it is worth your while. As a designer/ founder of a firm pioneering the “design for good” movement, I love uncovering the bad and the beautiful in travel. You may also find me sitting at the end of a noisy bar because bourbon is my spirit animal.

As far as cutting-edge art and design cities, Washington DC doesn’t immediately spring to mind. However, I flipped my lid when I saw that a Barbara Kruger installation AND a Man Ray exhibit were in town. A junket MUST be arranged.

My brother lives just outside the district, so that was that. He sprung into action—booking film tickets at FilmFestDC, getting Senate and House passes from his senator, Orioles tickets–the perfect travel agent! I just sat back for the ride. So much design, so much art. Let’s start with the Capitol.

The Capitol

The Capitol Visitor Center is a well-oiled machine. And it has to be due to the tons of visitors they get each day. You’ll move through the vast lower-level center easily due to a timed online reservation system. Additionally you can contact your representative and one of their staff will take you for a tour. I did this, but he stood me up! To be fair, he had a conflict and was extremely apologetic. Are you a poor planner? No worries, just show and they’ll hook you up with a tour.

The tour itself is limited—I counted three rooms—but if you get a good guide, you’ll come away at least a nugget or two of trivia to dazzle your friends. My guide was a loquacious young fellow, eager to throw his extensive knowledge on us.

If you watch national news, you may have seen scaffolding all over the structure. The cast iron of the dome is being restored. If you don’t watch national news, hey, the Capitol is being restored! Here’s the view from inside.

The fresco looks heavenly with the billowy canopy around it! Here it is little closer: The Apotheosis of Washington by Italian Constantino Brumidi. (one of my nuggets) Yes, that’s George Washington holding court in the center–a little unAmerican, but there you go.

The other grand room you enter is the Statuary Hall which contains statues (natch) given by the states to the Capitol. Here’s Huey Long gesturing.

Do contact your representative to get passes for the House and Senate. We got lucky and Senate was in session so we sat there watching governance. Ok, to be honest, not much was happening, but I got to hear Harry Reid make a speech and saw other lawmakers milling about. Unfortunately, they take away all electronics before you go into either chamber, so I have no photos. But as a news junkie, I was thrilled to see these folks I see on the tv all the time. But that might just be me.

[highlight]That’s nice. Sooo, should I go?[/highlight] Yes. The tours are 45 minutes or so, filled with factoids, (although the guides do vary in content and enthusiasm) and ornate design is EVERYWHERE. No surface is left undecorated. Even if the style ain’t your cup of tea, this is US history. And if you’re in the chambers while legislation is being made, this is the future.

[highlight]Cost[/highlight]Free always. And you get a headset so you can hear through the din.

[highlight]Tip[/highlight] Go during lunch for less crowds.And wish I’d known about the excellent website of the Architect of the Capitol prior to visiting. Don’t be like me, check it out to set groundwork for your trip.

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Who’s Writing This?

Hello! I am a fiend for design, art and architecture and plan my travels around discovering them. Travel-related products, well-designed hotels, art events — you'll find em here. Some snark, some pricing and all honesty, I let you know what I uncover and if it is worth your while. As a designer/ founder of a firm pioneering the "design for good" movement, I love uncovering the bad and the beautiful in travel. You may also find me sitting at the end of a noisy bar because bourbon is my spirit animal. (see what I did there?)